On 28 December 1900 Johannes Hendrik Potgieter was caught and as a prisoner of war sent to the island of St Helena Bay. His wife and three young children were taken to a concentration camp in Bloemfontein and his farm and house was burned down. An estimated 25 000 women and children died in these camps. While still on the island, he received the news that his wife had died. After 21 months in Deadwood Camp, he was released. He went back to find his three children and returned to his burnt down farm. With a wagon and the few oxen he could get together, he transported goods for the British to earn an income to rebuild his farm.

The Dutch Reformed Church in Ventersburg was also burnt down as were many buildings in the town. After the Treaty of Vereeniging (31 May 1902) was signed, a temporary church was erected. In time it was decided to erect a bigger and more beautiful new church. The roof trusses and steel structures needed were delivered to Hennenman station. Johannes Potgieter (known as Oom Rooijan) transported it from there. He was able to turn a wagon and span of oxen inside the half-built church and could transport these right into the church.His 11-year-old son was the wagon leader. In spite of a long-lasting drought and great poverty, the church was inaugurated on 18 July 1913.The sculptor Cobus Haupt is the great grandchild of Oom Rooijan Potgieter.